Anthony Helps, 56, chained himself to the B1 Business Park building on Goodlass Road, Speke (Image: Jason Roberts)

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A man has handcuffed himself to a Liverpool office building in a row over pensions.

Anthony Helps, 56, chained himself to the B1 Business Park building on Goodlass Road, Speke, at 11am yesterday morning and told the ECHO he would remain there until his pension fund was transferred from company Henley Retirement Benefit Scheme, based inside the building.

Police confirmed allegations about the company had been referred to them and were being assessed.

Mr Helps, from Preston, also said he would be on hunger strike until the matter was resolved.

Yesterday afternoon he said he was planning to spend the night outside the office block.

He said he had transferred his local authority pension to the OMNI Trust through the scheme in 2012 after receiving a cold call from another firm.

Anthony Helps, 56, chained himself to the B1 Business Park building on Goodlass Road, Speke (Image: Jason Roberts)

But he said he was now unable to transfer his pension, worth more than £32,000, to another trust, despite contacting the company on a number of occasions.

Mr Helps, who took medical retirement 10 years ago after being diagnosed with cancer, said: “This pension would enable my wife to retire early but this is forcing her to carry on working.”

He added: “I will be here until that money is transferred.”

He said he had contacted agencies including the Financial Ombudsman, Trading Standards, Action Fraud and Pension Helpline to try and get help.

He claimed the company had said the pension would be transferred yesterday afternoon to a scheme of his choice, but he later found out this hadn’t happened.

He said: “Someone has brought me out a sleeping bag and I’ll be here overnight.”

Independent financial adviser Andrew Allen, who has been working with Mr Helps for three to four months, also attended at the office.

He told the ECHO: “We really don’t know what has happened to the pension at this moment in time.

“We have been trying to transfer the fund ever since we have been involved.”

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: “We have received some referrals from National Fraud Intelligence Bureau regarding Henley Retirement Benefit Scheme, these are still being assessed and therefore we can make no further comment at this time.”

Mr Helps, who was carrying a placard, spoke to office workers from other companies outside the building yesterday.

He said: “I’ve had a good reaction from people here today and I hope this will help other people.”

Henley Retirement Benefit Scheme was not immediately available for comment.